A DISABLED charity fundraiser who has travelled the length of Britain today slammed Burnley's bus station for having some of the worst facilities in the country.

Passengers have complained about the facilities for handicapped people and about the toilet being misused by drug addicts since the station opened in August.

Now Tony Palmer, 58, who suffers from epilepsy, angina and arthritis in his spine and legs, described the situation as a "farce".

The veteran charity fundraiser, of Moorland Road, Burnley, has travelled thousands of miles across the UK on his motorised scooter -- but said he struggled to get into the disabled toilets at the bus station in his home town.

Bosses at the town's £3million bus station today revealed they were already upgrading facilities just months after it was officially unveiled last August.

Burnley Council's property consultancy manager Michael Birdsall, who oversees the running of the bus station off Centenary Way, said he had had ordered a "radar lock" after vandals smashed the original lock on the toilet door.

Tony said: "It's just one thing after another with this bus station. You would think that after the money that's been spent on it they would be able to get things right.

"My scooter won't fit inside so I have to struggle in and leave it outside. The lock hasn't worked for three weeks after a number of complaints to the council and I have found needles in the sink.

"The last thing you want to see when you go to the toilet is some used needles, it's disgusting."

Tony, who first travelled from John O' Groats to Lands End three years ago and completed the trip in both directions again in 2000, added: "I have travelled the length of the country and these toilets at Burnley are some of the worst in the country."

A qualified baker and confectioner, Mr Palmer moved to Burnley from Staffordshire with his wife Alice and two daughters 10 years ago.

He has not worked for 28 years because of his condition but has raised thousands for charity and also navigated the TT course on the Isle of Man, when he was given an official start by veteran comedian Norman Wisdom.

Mr Birdsall said: "We have CCTV in operation at the bus station which is helping to prevent vandalism and other incidents which you might expect.

"Wherever you go in the country people always misuse public facilities and at one time the problem with 'sharps' was worse than it is now. This is because people know that the cameras are watching them. There are signs in the toilet warning people that the bus station is covered by CCTV.

"We are aware that the lock is broken and I have placed an order for a radar lock to be fitted to the disabled toilet which only people with a key can access which should help put a stop to some of the problems."

Gordon Kirkham, who works as a consultant for Shopmobility in St James Street, Burnley, to advise disabled people on access issues and provide wheelchairs and accessories, has already called for a special lock, available to all people registered as disabled who hold a key, to be fitted to the toilet.

In December councillors said services from Burnley's multi-million pound flagship bus station were letting passengers down.

Members said passengers had complained about being left stranded at bus stops, being asked to get off buses before the end of journeys and even about buses failing to appear.